I am working on something that I think will really fly.
I used to be an Australia Post Parcel Contractor, and with my background in computers, software and databases, I thought there must be a better way to sequence the parcels that I had to deliver than write them all down on a sheet of paper.
So I started with an Excel spreadsheet, where every location was on a separate sheet in the workbook, and every street was listed in delivery order within that location.
Each morning, I would print out my spreadsheet (20 or so pages), take them to the delivery centre, and then fill it all out with a pen. I would then take these sheets with me as I delivered the parcels, and then cross them off the sheet after delivery.
I thought there must have been a better way, and there was.
What did I have?
A big list of streets within my delivery area.
A set of locations - individual areas, connected by main streets within my delivery area, having a set of streets from the master list.
A delivery sequence, so as to minimise the time needed to visit each delivery point.
I came up with a computer program to help me with this, and I used it everyday from January 2007 to January 2008.
I am now in the process of finalising it for commercial release.
Its been a fun, if sometimes painful ride, (those van seats aren't the best !) but its almost ready to go.
So, if you're a parcel delivery courier, you might want to visit the website - regardless of where you live in the world.
Parcel contractors in Australia are paid per parcel. The cost for my system is just one parcel per day per month.
Keep checking the website, because I'll be putting more and more content there as the days go by.
Leave a comment here if you want to. I would love to hear from you.
What do you think?
2 comments:
I'd love to see this take off, Dadzo - I think the key to this product's success is just informing the populace of the product's ease of use, and how it can increase productivity throughout their working day, and you've got a sure seller...
One hurdle I can envision (without having seen the software, so this could very well be unfounded) however if Mr X has been delivering parcels to the same suburb / area for 20 or so years, then he would have a good idea of what time to deliver the parcels, which roads to take and which roads to avoid in cases of inner-city / CBD congestion, how flexible is the software in catering if the user wanted to change a route, ad hoc?
bjzo!
I already have someone using it, and he reports that his drivers have been able to leave at least 30 minutes earlier than the others... so that's a productivity improvement right there! :)
Yes, this is true.
My main marketing thrust though is to give the folks who do this day in, day out from 5am to whenever, a chance to train a relief driver, and reduce the training time (and hence their cost since they have to pay to train someone) so that the usual person can take a break.
That's essentially why I wrote it - the other factors about productivity improvements (especially the sort phase) are really a by-product!
And I added a new thing on Friday too - now, they can enter the surname and initial(s) when entering a parcel. Next time, they need only enter the surname (it'll auto-complete) and if its the right one, will populate the address details stored from last time.
So if they enter all like parcels together (say all their express posts) and parcel types (such as small, letter type ones that can be loaded into a corflute box), then if the parcel type and size are already set, it takes just 4 keystrokes to enter a parcel.
2 to select the surname, 1 to tab away after the right one has beenh found, and 1 to press Enter.
4 keystrokes. Amazing.
Lastly, no, there isn't a chance (at the moment) of changing the route due to congestion or whatever. That'd need some online connectivity or some such, and at the price point, that's not something I can add (at this point)
So thanks for dropping by, and commenting - that will help my Google rankings no end!
You haven't made any posts on your blog for a while?
Take care!
Dadzo
xoxoxo
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